I was born in Kaunas, Lithuania October 3,1941. Our family moved to Germany in 1945 and settled near the city of Augsburg. In 1949 we emigrated to the United States, choosing the suburbs of Chicago as our new home. Here I received my elementary and high school education, attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, and in 1969 attained my Ph.D. in theoretical physics. During the next fourteen years I pursued an academic career of teaching and research as a Professor in Geophysics at University of Illinois.  It was during this time that I launched by Correspondence Chess pursuits that culminated in my winning the World Championship. My wife Aurelia is a Medical Doctor, specializing in Family Practice. Presently we live in Walnut Creek, California.

Early Chess Years

I learned chess from my uncle when I was 5 years old, but only became serious about chess at the age of 13 when a high school friend and I became involved in a continuous series of matches lasting for almost two years.  We independently studied the few chess books available at that time, and tested our newly found knowledge in three 25 game matches. I was an active participant of our strong chess club at Morton HS in Cicero (Ed Formanek later became and OTB IM), and this competitive atmosphere helped sharpen my chess skills.

Chicago was the largest center of Lithuanians outside of Lithuania, and I soon came under the wing of the Lithuanian chess community. They introduced me to USCF tournament chess by taking me to the1958 Indiana Open in Indianapolis which was a surprisingly strong tournament for that time. Present were GM Robert Byrne and many strong Midwest masters such as Povilas Tautvaisas who was known as "the old fox."  I managed to win against several experts and lost only to master G. Meyer.  For this performance I received an expert rating, and since that time I have held an expert rating or higher.

During the next five years (1958-1963) I played primarily in the Midwest, winning several tournaments. I did compete in several National events: the 1959 and 1961 US Junior Championships coming in 5th both times, and the 1963 US Open where I placed 5th behind GMs Lombardy, Byrne, Benko, Gligoric. Two of my losses were at the hands of Byrne and Bisguier.  I had just graduated from college and this was a nice way to "end" my undergraduate years. College days seem to recall the best of memories for most people and they certainly do for me.  Everything was exciting: studying and anticipating the future, socializing, soccer, chess, etc.  But, my best college days occurred during my senior year when I met a young Lithuanian freshman, Aurelia Gincauskas, who was destined to be my life companion.

In the fall of 1963 I began my graduate studies in Theoretical Physics at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.  Graduate school put a crimp on my chess, soccer, and other activities.  It was an enjoyable but somewhat monastic life during those years.  Then, in 1969 I received my Ph.D.,  Aurelia received her MD degree, we married and started our new careers and life together.